BY PC Bureau
May 16, 2026: The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) on Friday strongly condemned the killing of three senior tribal church leaders in Manipur and demanded the immediate handover of alleged cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM) and the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF-K) whom it accused of involvement in the deadly ambush.
In a press release issued on May 16, KOHUR described the May 13 attack between Kotzim and Kotlen villages in Kangpokpi district as a “cold-blooded” and “barbaric ambush” targeting unarmed church leaders returning from a Baptist convention and peace gathering in Churachandpur district.
“The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) once again places on record its deepest sorrow and uncompromising condemnation of the barbaric ambush of 13th May, 2026,” the organisation said in its statement.
READ: Manipur: Kin of Indian Army Paratrooper Among Kuki Hostages
READ: Bloodshed, Hostages, and Silence: How the Nation Has Abandoned Manipur’s Tribals
The attack claimed the lives of Reverend Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou, President of the Thadou Baptist Association India (TBAI) and former General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention; Pastor Kaigoulun Lhouvum, TBAI Secretary for Finance, Youth and Music; and Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou, TBAI Superintendent Pastor. Several other church leaders travelling with them were also seriously injured in the firing.
According to KOHUR, the victims had been returning from the 1st United Baptist Convention Assembly held at the Gangte Baptist Association (GBA) Centre Church in Chiengkon when they were ambushed by armed militants.
“These unarmed servants of God were returning home from the 1st United Baptist Convention Assembly at the GBA Centre Church, Chiengkon, when they were mercilessly attacked,” the statement added.
Expressing outrage over the killings, the organisation said the attack had shaken the conscience of the Kuki-Zo community and targeted individuals who had dedicated their lives to peace, faith, and reconciliation.
KOHUR further demanded that those responsible for the attack be immediately identified and handed over to authorities for prosecution. The organisation specifically named alleged cadres linked to the NSCN-IM and ZUF-K factions and called for swift action by the government and security agencies.
The killings have triggered widespread outrage across Manipur’s tribal hill districts and were followed by retaliatory abductions and a tense hostage crisis involving Kuki-Zo and Naga groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts.
Civil society organisations, church bodies, and tribal groups have since demanded an independent probe into the attack, with growing calls for the case to be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
